Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Frequently Asked Questions

Giving FAQs - Help for donors and general information about the Charitable Fund Drive

Coordinator FAQs - Questions related to coordinator roles and administering the Charitable Fund Drive for your agency or site

Nonprofit FAQs - Help for prospective or participating nonprofits

 

Giving FAQs

 

The Charitable Fund Drive is an annual, combined charitable giving campaign tailored to meet the needs and wishes of employees of state of Oregon. The Charitable Fund Drive helps state employees create the future each of you wants to see become reality in Oregon. Whether you care about Oregon's animals, arts and culture, environment, equity and human rights, health, housing, families, or anything else - there is a nonprofit working for these ideals.
 
You can support any of approximately 800 nonprofits or issues through the Fund Drive by making just one charitable gift. Oregon's Charitable Fund Drive was implemented in 1989 as a way to offer access to this wide range of nonprofits through an easy, once-a-year campaign that gives state employees precise control over where their contributions are spent. Last year, state employees contributed more than $784,000 to the Fund Drive.
One of the benefits of the Charitable Fund Drive is the ease with which you can handle all of your charitable giving in one step.
 
Want to make giving easy? The simplest option is to have your contribution deducted from your paychecks. Many employees find the Fund Drive's payroll contribution method easiest and most satisfying, because a small amount taken out of each check adds up to a substantial gift over the course of a year.  The Fund Drive has an easy online pledging system that is secure, paperless and simple to use.
 
 
Would you rather donate using cash or a check? The Fund Drive gladly accepts cash or checks. Is it easiest for you to give with a credit card? The Fund Drive can charge your gift to most major credit cards, and do it securely online using the links above.  
 
Planning on retiring soon? You can have a monthly gift sent automatically from your checking account through Electronic Funds Transfer. After you have retired, log on and donate at www.ipledgeonline.org/_rpe/. 
 
Whatever method you choose, the Fund Drive is designed to make your giving easy.
When you contribute to the Charitable Fund Drive, 100% of your contribution goes to the organizations you designate. Last year's Fund Drive administrative costs were less than 12 percent of the overall funds raised, less than half of many other states' campaigns.
 
These costs are paid by the funds and federations in the campaign; no donor or state funds are used. The Charitable Fund Drive Committee members realize that keeping fundraising expenses low is extremely important to the success of the Fund Drive. The Committee and the Campaign Management Organization (CMO) work hard to keep costs down.
​When you make a payroll pledge, your donation information will be passed to the umbrella group your nonprofit belongs to at the campaign's end. The donation dollars will be deducted starting on the first paycheck of the following year.
 
If you make a one-time credit card or cash donation, those donations will be paid to the umbrella group your nonprofit belongs to at the end of the campaign.
 
Each umbrella group has its own schedule for distributing dollars to individual nonprofits, although most are on a quarterly payment basis with their funded nonprofits.

​There are sound reasons for giving through the Fund Drive:

  • Nonprofits prefer to process a single check from the Fund Drive, rather than numerous checks from individual contributors. This method keeps their administrative costs low.
  • Nonprofits know early in the year roughly what their revenue from Fund Drive pledges will be, and they can plan their programs accordingly. Systematic planning is not possible with sporadic individual contributions.
  • Donations given through the Fund Drive are a bargain for the participating nonprofits and appreciate that the Fund Drive’s low overhead costs increase revenue for their programs. 
  • Payroll contribution is a painless way to give—you won’t miss money you never see. And most of us can give a substantial annual gift on a monthly basis.
  • Your gift through the Charitable Fund Drive has a greater impact, because it is combined with contributions from other state employees.
  • You are part of a generous state community as a Fund Drive donor.
  • You will receive personal recognition from the Fund Drive.
  • You may elect to remain anonymous by checking the box under the line for name and address. You will receive an email from the Campaign Management Organization acknowledging your gifts for tax purposes.

​When you "DESIGNATE YOUR GIFT" your contribution will go to the agency or agencies you designated. If you wish to receive an acknowledgment from your designated nonprofits, be sure to fill out the acknowledgment section on the online pledge system or paper pledge card. Your name and home address will then be forwarded to the nonprofits you have designated with their first pledge payment next spring. They will email or mail a letter to you and acknowledge your gift.

​All nonprofits included in this year's campaign applied through their federation or fund in March to the State CFD Committee. Decisions about eligibility are based on compliance with Oregon Administrative Rule 121.030.006 - 121.030.090. 
 
If your favorite agency is not listed through the online pledge system or in the paper brochure, it may not belong to a federation or fund. Call the Campaign Management Organization at 503-363-1651 or email oregoncfd@unitedwaymwv.org​ for additional help.

​If you know of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has a "substantial presence" in Oregon, they may be eligible to receive donations through the Charitable Fund Drive. State rules require eligible nonprofits to be part of a participating Fund or Federation; nonprofits cannot individually apply for inclusion. 

Use the "Charity Search Tool" (under Main Menu on menu bar, no login required) on the Charitable Fund Drive's pledging site to explore the different funds and federations. Encourage staff or board members at your favorite organization to contact those that seem to fund organizations like theirs and to ask when they admit new member nonprofits.

​Many donors like to be kept informed of the work of the organizations they support.  Allowing release of your information is a great way to stay informed.

If you allow us to release your information, the campaign will notify the umbrella organizations representing the organization(s) you’ve supported.  The umbrella organizations are responsible for distributing information and funds back out to their members/grantees.

The umbrella organization may take the opportunity to thank you for your support, as well as pass along your information to the respective nonprofits. We wrap up the campaign in February and that is when your information is passed along to the umbrella organizations.

The umbrella organizations pass along the information to their members/grantees in different timeframes – some immediately and some take a few months. If you have not been acknowledged as you requested, please contact the CMO Team at oregoncfd@unitedwaymwv.org. ​

The CMO Team produces an e-newsletter, "Your Gifts at Work" six to eight times a year. It profiles the activity of different nonprofits around the state and shares volunteer opportunities for that month.
 
If you allow the fund drive to communicate with you year-round, you would receive the monthly newsletter and, on occasion, a reminder the following year that the campaign is underway.
​Any donor who used the online pledge system to make a donation can log in (state employees log in here, or university employees here) and look at past pledges in the "My Pledges" tab of the site.  You can also see whether funds are being deducted from your paycheck by consulting a current pay stub.  Donations through the Charitable Fund Drive appear as "CHARITABLE" on your pay stub.

​The Charitable Fund Drive offers an option on the online pledge site for state employees to make an "undesignated gift". Any donations using this option will be split equally among the statewide umbrella groups and the local United Way or United Fund in the community where you work. 
 
If you are giving using a paper pledge form, write in code number 5000 to make an undesignated gift.

​YES, IF you itemize your deductions when you complete your annual tax return. Consult a tax professional if you have questions about deducting charitable donations.

​If you plan to itemize your deductions, be sure to keep at least two of these pieces of documentation listed below. Tax laws now require you to have more than one of these items, regardless of the dollar value of the gift: 
 
  1. A printed confirmation of your pledge — either from the online pledging system or a photocopy of your paper pledge form.
  2. Your FINAL pay stub of the calendar year or W-2 form showing you had money deducted from your pay.
  3. A letter/email from the Charitable Fund Drive confirming your donation or pledge was received.
  4. Letters from the nonprofit organizations you pledged to, thanking you for your gift.
You can access your past online pledge history year-round at the “IPLEDGEONLINE” site (accessible via ecfd.oregon.gov). When you’re at the online pledging site, log in to the system, click “My Pledges and Profile,” then “My Pledges.”
​Yes, you certainly can!  Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you can’t support your favorite nonprofits every year!  As a PERS recipient, you can now make a charitable donation using your credit card or an ACH (bank) transfer.  It can be a one-time or recurring gift, and you can split your gift among a wide range of nonprofits.
 
Visit www.ipledgeonline.org/_rpe online, register with the system, then make a gift to any of almost 900 Oregon nonprofits.  It’s easy, secure, and your gift will continue to have an impact!  Thank you for your service to our Oregon communities, and for giving back.

​The Fund Drive always keeps administrative costs below 10% of the dollars raised. Fund Drive costs are paid by the umbrella groups raising donations through the Fund Drive, NOT by the state of Oregon.  Administrative costs are NEVER withheld from employee donations.
 
A Charitable Fund Drive Committee reviews and approves the proposed budget for the campaign each year. Administrative costs cover travel expenses; personnel costs; materials printing; donor, campaign leader, postage and agency recognition items; a CPA audit; and other authorized campaign expenses.

​The Charitable Fund Drive needs a professional organization to plan, promote and carry out its goals. State regulations require that every local campaign be managed by a not-for-profit agency. United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley was approved by the CFD Committee to manage the campaign.
 
The Campaign Management Organization (CMO) team members all do their part to make sure the Fund Drive is properly planned and managed. The CMO is not paid a fee to run the campaign, but is reimbursed for approved Fund Drive expenditures through a pre-approved annual budget. EarthShare Oregon also applies independently to participate in the campaign and is eligible to receive donations.

​You most likely have had contact with at least one nonprofit that receives Charitable Fund Drive donations. From swimming lessons at the YMCA, to Red Cross CPR instruction, almost all of us have been touched by various worthy organizations. Your co-worker or family members may have received job training or literacy skills from a Charitable Fund Drive nonprofit. Many advances in medicine are due, in great part, to charitable donations for research and direct service. Greenspaces we visit are often maintained by nonprofit groups.

Even if we have no direct involvement with a Fund Drive agency, each of us benefits from living in a community that provides so many services for all who want or need them. Everyone's quality of life is enhanced by voluntary organizations.

Charitable organizations fill the gaps between our economic system and the limitations of government. If it were not for nonprofits, our taxes would be much higher and community needs much greater. Support the nonprofit of your choice through the Charitable Fund Drive and then ask others for their support!

​The Charitable Fund Drive is separate from the Governor's Food Drive, though both benefit nonprofit organizations.

Timeframe:

  • Charitable Fund Drive -- Sept. 1st - Oct. 31st (state agencies); Oct. - Jan. (universities)
  • Food Drive -- month of February

Scope: The Charitable Fund Drive is broad in scope, offering state and university employees the opportunity to give to a range of causes, whereas the Food Drive focuses only on hunger.

Method: Both offer the option of payroll deduction giving; Food Drive also collects food. 

 

Coordinator FAQs

 

​The Charitable Fund Drive is guided by rules and regulations set out by the Department of Administrative Services, in Oregon Administrative Rules 121-030-0006 through 125-030-0090. These rules explain how organizations are chosen for participation in the Charitable Fund Drive, the committee of state employees that oversees the Fund Drive, and other rules and regulations regarding this campaign.

​The Governing Committee of the strongly encourages the use of drawings, NOT raffles. Raffles, where participants purchase tickets to have a better chance of winning are NOT allowed by the Department of Administrative Services and the Charitable Fund Drive Committee. A raffle (which is regulated by the state of Oregon) includes the elements of consideration, chance and a prize. Consideration is presumed to be present unless it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to prospective participants that tickets may be acquired without contributing something of economic value.

Only drawings, wherein each person participating is not required to pay or purchase any good or services in order to receive a ticket and has an equal chance of winning, are allowed during the Charitable Fund Drive. EXAMPLE: If you turn in a pledge form, even with $0, you receive a ticket.

Many vendors and businesses will donate prizes to agencies to use within their departments for the campaign. If the vendor requests a receipt, please contact the Charitable Fund Drive CMO team (oregoncfd@unitedwaymwv.org​) to provide them with a receipt. Coordinators are not allowed to supply any vendors with a receipt. Agencies are not allowed to solicit or receive cash from vendors.

​A detailed checklist of steps is available on p.9 of your Coordinator Resource Guide (pdf).

 

Nonprofit FAQs

 

​If you represent a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has a "substantial presence" in Oregon, they may be eligible to receive donations through the Charitable Fund Drive. Substantial presence requires the nonprofit to provide charitable services – in Oregon – to Oregonians. State rules require eligible nonprofits to be part of a participating Fund or Federation; nonprofits cannot individually apply for inclusion.

Use the "Charity Search Tool" on the Charitable Fund Drive's pledging site (under Main Menu) to explore the different funds and federations. Encourage staff or board members at your favorite organization to contact those that seem to fund organizations like theirs and to ask when they admit new member nonprofits.​​

​You can start now, by contacting funds and federations that have an affinity with your type of organization. For example, United Ways across Oregon work with health and human services organizations; Black United Fund works with education-focused nonprofits, Community Health Charities focuses on human health and diseases, etc. Some are membership organizations; others are granting organizations that offer program/project grants.

You will need to be included in that fund/federation’s list of groups prior to March to be eligible for the next Fund Drive cycle. Decisions about eligibility are based on compliance with Oregon Administrative Rule 121.030.006 - 121.030.090.​